500 Series Integrated Amp

or a palaver even.

Two hopes: No hope and Bob Hope (and he's dead!).

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

Imagine how heavy it would be 

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Imagine how heavy it would be 

Yes but you could do away with the rack just leave on the pallet ??

james n posted:

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

At this level you would probably want to keep the pre and power sections separate as well, and perhaps also keep their respective power supplies separate too.  So... you're looking at at least three boxes (akin to the Statement arrangement), or maybe even four, in which case a NAC552/552PS + NAP500/500PS is your "500 series integrated Amp".  

A specially constructed Naim pallet - no doubt!!

Richard Dane posted:

james n posted:

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

At this level you would probably want to keep the pre and power sections separate as well, and perhaps also keep their respective power supplies separate too.  So... you're looking at at least three boxes (akin to the Statement arrangement), or maybe even four, in which case a NAC552/552PS + NAP500/500PS is your "500 series integrated Amp".  

Yes, many ways to go - depends what sort of compromises (and design budgets) you have to play with. 

So not too much hope then in the Naim world. I'm not bothered if it is big or heavy (similar to the 500 power amp for example) with a price tag to match. Sound quality with simplicity is becoming quite appealing as I reach 55 and rebuilding a brain and brawn stack is starting to lose its appeal.

Being a dyed in the wool naim sheep,  I do not tend to know much about other amp manufacturers. Dare I ask if anyone else knows of hig-end integrated amps and might be able to suggest a few on this very forum? It is probably illegal, but let's give it a go.

There are a few amp manufactures out there making this and way, way above a 500 level integrated amp but the Naim philosophy is to seperate all the different sections involved so I'm pretty sure that a 500 integrated wouldn't sound as good.

The problem is that you begin to come up against certain fundamentals that cannot be avoided.  Physically separating power supplies from sensitive amplification stages - particularly low level signals - is one such.  The way around it is to make a big package - think the Statement pre-amp where the power supply is down in the base and then there's the acrylic "joint" with the actual pre-amp itself in various isolated  "rooms" above.   

A 500 series integrated is certainly possible but it is  always going to be a compromise compared to the exact same bits in separate boxes.  It's a question of "how much?" in in both cost, compromise and performance...

There is also the compromise of getting the signal from one box to another via external cables with a multi-box design.

Er, totally off topic, I thought of this valid point: for prog rock to flourish it is only necessary that good men do nothing.

 

 

Ghettoyout posted:

This week I rebuilt my 500 series kit from scratch after having the livingroom redecorated. It's quite a palver building two stacks taking into account best practice as regards box placement, cable dressing and the like. There's a bit of a sheen to the sound at the moment that I'm sure will go away when it all gets warmed up.

But it got me thinking how much easier it would be if there was a 500 quality integrated amp out there. Four boxes down to one, a lot less cabling and fewer shelves on the rack. Has anyone heard such a beast or know of one? I think it is something Naim should ponder. Could be a game changer.

Best etc.,

Ghetto Yout'.

It must be terrible standing in your newly decorated living room staring at that 500 series kit and thinking I wish it were smaller and had less boxes.  My heart really goes out to you I feel your pain Ghettoyout I really do! 

Ghettoyout posted:

This week I rebuilt my 500 series kit from scratch after having the livingroom redecorated. It's quite a palver building two stacks taking into account best practice as regards box placement, cable dressing and the like. There's a bit of a sheen to the sound at the moment that I'm sure will go away when it all gets warmed up.

But it got me thinking how much easier it would be if there was a 500 quality integrated amp out there. Four boxes down to one, a lot less cabling and fewer shelves on the rack. Has anyone heard such a beast or know of one? I think it is something Naim should ponder. Could be a game changer.

Best etc.,

Ghetto Yout'.

dagostino integrated perhaps....

I heard a Mark Levinson 585 integrated at a show a couple of years ago. It was driving some mammoth JBLs, either Project Everest DD66000 or a model just below. 

I think the amp is £12.5k and the speakers in the region of £50k - so somewhat of a mullet, by my did it sound good. The Levinson had a DAC module as well, so you could be rid of another box. I wonder what the speakers would have sounded like on the end of a 500 system.

There are other options out there - I think Vitus audio were popular on here a while ago. 

 Edit - Speakers may have been 67000 (£70k) ouch !!

I for one would like to see a "500" level streamer/pre-amp without an internal PS that would be an upgrade from 272. That may be more likely.

I'm sure Naim have had a Statement integrated on drawing table for quite some years

Maybe delayed due to recent Uniti issues

Perhaps it will be launched next year ?

Perhaps along with a complete amp range overhaul ?

Exiting times

Just thinking allowed but would be interesting to have special 'active only' NAP 500 version with duel stereo [4 x 70watts per channel] and with four speaker cable outputs for direct active speaker connection. Onboard SNAXO powered by a special version active 500PS. Which all together would save the need for another NAP + PS, SNAXO + PS, & 4 x shelves of fraim. [not to mention savings on fancy pants interconnection cables]

Would also be interesting to have a special NAC 552 version with just one row of buttons [no record row switchgear & circuitry] which never get used by many 552 owners.

Debs

Richard Dane posted:

james n posted:

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

At this level you would probably want to keep the pre and power sections separate as well, and perhaps also keep their respective power supplies separate too.  So... you're looking at at least three boxes (akin to the Statement arrangement), or maybe even four, in which case a NAC552/552PS + NAP500/500PS is your "500 series integrated Amp".  

Interesting that the Statement pre is a one box solution and the Statement mono's have the power amp and psu in one case. 

The Strat (Fender) posted:

A specially constructed Naim pallet - no doubt!!

One can only imagine the price of said pallet!

jsaudio posted:

I for one would like to see a "500" level streamer/pre-amp without an internal PS that would be an upgrade from 272. That may be more likely.

me too....like dagostino momentum or the big jeff rowland with streaming dac, gryphon diablo 300 also...

steve95775 posted:

Richard Dane posted:

james n posted:

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

At this level you would probably want to keep the pre and power sections separate as well, and perhaps also keep their respective power supplies separate too.  So... you're looking at at least three boxes (akin to the Statement arrangement), or maybe even four, in which case a NAC552/552PS + NAP500/500PS is your "500 series integrated Amp".  

Interesting that the Statement pre is a one box solution and the Statement mono's have the power amp and psu in one case. 

There is plenty of real estate available for effective isolation of the power supply from the rest of the amp in the Statement model. 

Ghettoyout posted:

Being a dyed in the wool naim sheep,  I do not tend to know much about other amp manufacturers. Dare I ask if anyone else knows of hig-end integrated amps and might be able to suggest a few on this very forum? It is probably illegal, but let's give it a go.

Vitus seems to be popular with ex owners. Easy transition too as it comes in black 

steve95775 posted:

Richard Dane posted:

james n posted:

Interesting idea. I'd expect a '500' integrated to keep the a two box setup (amp and psu) so you'd not be gaining too much in terms of cabling / rack space if Naim ever entertained the idea. 

I'm not sure why you'd want to go this way though as up at this level in the Naim world you're going to have a fair few boxes anyway so a few more won't hurt 

At this level you would probably want to keep the pre and power sections separate as well, and perhaps also keep their respective power supplies separate too.  So... you're looking at at least three boxes (akin to the Statement arrangement), or maybe even four, in which case a NAC552/552PS + NAP500/500PS is your "500 series integrated Amp".  

Interesting that the Statement pre is a one box solution and the Statement mono's have the power amp and psu in one case. 

Yup, hence my comment further down:

...The way around it is to make a big package - think the Statement pre-amp where the power supply is down in the base and then there's the acrylic "joint" with the actual pre-amp itself in various isolated "rooms" above.

The power supplies are effectively isolated from the rest of the amp - think separate boxes but joined and kept apart by a large acrylic spacer.

In the light of the Unitis and Statement I raised the question of the Classic amps being revamped at a Naim event and the response was negative in that the DR upgrades were just that.